Mac Classic Ethernet

[Jaek_3]

To get serial to ethernet, could I just string a series of adapters together? For instance, the original serial modem cable connected to a parallel to serial converter, and then a serial to ethernet converter plugged into that?

If that was a comicly stupid question, then please feel free to list the actual ways to get online.

On a semi related note, I have an old serial 56k modem, would it be possible to use that for anything interesting? 

 

[Macdrone]

Tey have serial to ethernet adapters from Farralon called easy net.  /the likelihood of chaining adapters may work but will just add to the headache of set up at the least.

 

[PowerPup]

Technically you can use two modems and get them to talk to each other by manually "dialing out" and "picking up" on each respected end. You can transfer files on the Mac Classic with something like ZTerm.
 
If you're trying to get an ethernet connection on the Mac Classic for networking purposes, (AppleTalk/AppleShare, TCP/IP, etc,) then you'll need a network bridge adapter such as the Farallon EtherMac IPrint Adapter, or the Asante Micro Asanteprint. (There are also SCSI Ethernet adapters out there, but are very rare and expensive IIRC.)
 
If you're trying to get online with the Mac Classic, then you'll also need a machine to act as a router for the Mac Classic. As the Mac Classic will have to use MacIP (IP-Over-AppleTalk). You can use another Mac running IPNetRouter, or one of mactjaap's solutions at http://www.macip.net/

A Mac Classic (even max'd out at 4MB) won't be able to do much with email or a web browser, but you can always use it as a terminal, transfer files with FTP. Things of that nature.

 

[Jaek_3]

Well, connecting to the internet is more of a long term goal. How could I connect two macs together? Couldn't I just connect two mac classics with a single 9 pin cable via the modem port?

 

[Bunsen]

Absolutely you can, and it doesn't matter whether you use the "Modem" or "Printer" ports.  They are both Appletalk networking enabled serial ports.

 

 

[Bunsen]

a series of adapters /  serial modem cable connected to a parallel to serial converter, and then a serial to ethernet converter

The serial to parallel stage in there is not needed.  Just plug a serial /edit/ Localtalk / Appletalk to ethernet converter straight into the Mac.

 

[Bunsen]

By the way, there are a few threads on this forum already which will tell you everything you need to know.  As we don't (yet) have a dedicated "Networking" forum, they're scattered around a few different places, but most of them are pinned to the top of each forum's index page.

https://68kmla.org/forums/index.php?/topic/20322-presenting-classic-mac-networking-guide-30/
https://68kmla.org/forums/index.php?/topic/1334-networking-a-classic-mac-via-serial-port-os-x-unix-linux-internet/
https://68kmla.org/forums/index.php?/topic/14826-the-definitive-guide-to-connecting-your-se30/

https://68kmla.org/forums/index.php?/topic/27453-macippi-surf-the-internet-on-your-old-macintosh-with-tcpip-over-localtalk/